After so much effort, after going around in such big circles, Mobius finally, huffily, agreed to Lin Wei's terms.
It wasn't uncommon for people to strike deals with Mobius over the past fifty thousand years. Usually, though, Mobius held all the cards. Like a viper eyeing its next unfortunate prey, she'd use all sorts of tempting words to "coax" them onto her operating table.
The price? Enduring various inhuman experiments in exchange for the "reward" she promised.
Of course, while Doctor Mobius had a terrible reputation, her credibility was impeccable. She always delivered on her promises. This was a major reason why even prominent "test subjects" like Hua, Kosma, and even Kalpas held such complicated feelings towards her. Nobody liked her, but they didn't exactly hate her either.
But Lin Wei was an exception. He was actually trying to tempt Doctor Mobius? Unthinkable!
"Hah, what a joke! A mere lab rat... Does he really think he has some irreplaceable value?"
Mobius muttered indignantly as she left the hall, not even bothering to acknowledge Elysia, whom she bumped into. All she wanted was to go home and calm down—
—or rather, to meticulously prepare her lab and work protocols...
Because no matter how reluctant or stubborn she acted, Mobius couldn't lie to herself. As a researcher standing at the pinnacle of civilization, she knew from the very first moment she heard Lin Wei's "exchange proposal" that she absolutely couldn't refuse it.
This wasn't just about the possibility of freeing herself and her companions from the shackles of their memory-based existence and returning to the real world. More importantly, it represented an entirely new research direction. Another brand-new door, extending from the very concept of "Stigmata," was slowly creaking open before her:
Using the Authority of Corruption to transform a real, living girl into a special Stigmata possessing a complete personality via a "lossless replacement" method... With Lin Wei and Yae Sakura as living proof, as tangible "samples," Mobius could already see the blueprint for a brand new "Sixteenth Stigmata Project" taking shape!
Even the crudest imitation, using the most basic application of this method—transforming a person into a Stigmata that retains their original will, then "injecting" that Stigmata into a clone body grown beforehand from their own genes... Wouldn't that effectively create a new kind of human? Someone possessing their "own Stigmata," yet otherwise identical to their past self?
"Exploring unknown possibilities, using them as stepping stones to climb towards a greater future... Yes, this is the true purpose of a Herrscher's Authority!"
Mobius felt a surge of resentment. She tilted her head back, gazing at the beautiful sky—also woven from memories and data. That resentment gradually twisted into intense jealousy.
"MEI, do you see now? I was right all along!"
"I told you long ago! Forging precious Herrscher Cores into so-called Divine Keys, using them like common knives and guns—it's the most disgraceful waste imaginable!"
But what was the use of saying all this now?
MEI was long dead. Their civilization had turned to dust fifty thousand years ago. The thirteen of them, the only survivors, were now trapped in this Elysian Realm, playing the ridiculous role of glorified "museum staff"!
She had secretly kept some of the Herrscher of Corruption's virus samples back then. It was just a trivial remnant left after the Herrscher was sealed, possessing little of its original Authority. Still, Mobius treasured it and conducted many experiments. She even achieved significant results using Hua as a subject, but by then, it was already too late.
Their civilization was doomed, the end was nigh. In the real world, she couldn't do much more. Her only option was to entrust the future to another version of herself...
And here, in the Elysian Realm, after fifty thousand years of relentless research, Mobius had managed, using just that minuscule amount of virus and her own brilliance, to mimic the power of the Authority of Corruption. It was all in preparation for a surprise attack against another Herrscher of Corruption in a future battle that seemed almost hopeless.
Though now, her precious samples had been stolen by a thief and were gone, the research findings remained safely stored within her genius brain. Because of this, Mobius was supremely confident about tackling this new research centered around the Authority of Corruption—
—even though its actual realization might still be a long way off...
"Hmph, just you wait. I will surpass all of this and lead you all towards a greater future!"
Filled with her usual fighting spirit, Mobius rushed back to the depths of the Elysian Realm at top speed. She threw herself into her laboratory and shut the door, just as she always did when facing a new challenge.
"Klein, come find me later to receive your new assignments."
As she passed, Mobius left only these nonchalant words hanging in the air.
Has that girl been slacking off too much lately? How could she let someone like Vill-V trick her?
Still bothered by that previous incident, Mobius decided it was time to give her most capable assistant some extra work.
"Understood, Doctor."
Klein replied calmly in her usual, listless voice, clearly accustomed to this sort of thing.
---||---
"No wonder Mobius looked so funny when she left just now. Turns out she made such a losing deal, huh?"
Elysia doubled over with laughter after learning the whole story. Her bright, watery eyes danced with amusement as she looked at Lin Wei, chuckling.
"Drawing a pie in the sky on paper and then having the gall to negotiate terms with Mobius... Your courage truly is astonishing!"
"When you say 'courage,' you probably mean something else, don't you?" Lin Wei calmly addressed the hidden layer in Elysia's words, speaking with self-deprecation. "After all, in a way, what I'm doing is disrupting the order within the Elysian Realm. It certainly looks like an unwelcome kind of 'courage,' doesn't it?"
"Mmm-hmm~" Elysia wasn't surprised by Lin Wei's continued honesty. Her tone remained as bright and charming as ever. "While I understand you have your reasons for doing this, these actions might make some of our companions uneasy, you know? Lin Wei, you're my best friend, but everyone here is also my best friend. If something like that really happened, even I would feel troubled!"
As she spoke, her delicate eyebrows furrowed visibly, and her tone took on a hint of distress.
She wants me to give her a reason to reassure everyone, doesn't she? Lin Wei thought wryly. Dealing with this group of geniuses for so long had practically maxed out his "read between the lines" skill.
"Perhaps... this is also part of my mission here?" After a moment's thought, Lin Wei offered, "If this research truly bears fruit, then the 'Project STIGMA' and 'Project EMBER'—representing the worst and best choices, respectively, seemingly incompatible—might not necessarily be mutually exclusive. We could potentially forge a third path, combining the strengths of both."
Having already been open with Elysia, Lin Wei spoke with fewer reservations. "Elysia, in your era, there wasn't a special existence like Yae Village. Therefore, the 'Stigmata Project' could only be just that, the 'Project STIGMA.' And 'Project EMBER' felt more like a hopeful wish for the future."
"But now, the existence of Yae Village proves that Stigmata themselves can also become the EMBER. If I didn't share this revelation with you all, wouldn't that be a tremendous regret?"
"Oh... So that's what you were actually thinking?" Elysia paused for a moment, clearly not expecting Lin Wei to say that.
"You said the Elysian Realm is a storybook," Lin Wei elaborated. "To me, a more complete description would be: thirteen messengers across time and space, sealing the grand story of fifty thousand years ago within this small underground corner, waiting for future generations to discover and read it carefully."
"So, in a way, aren't I also a messenger, just going in the opposite direction? Through my actions, I brought Rin, a wanderer lost fifty thousand years ago, back here, completing the regrettable parts of this story. Furthermore, I've brought different possibilities from the future world here, telling the era of fifty thousand years ago: your past efforts have brought new hope—using your words, isn't that quite romantic?"
"Wow, you really are a boy who's good at creating romance!" Elysia listened quietly, then beamed like a blossoming flower and started playfully teasing, "We should really let that boring Ice block Kevin hear this! Sigh, honestly, I have no idea what MEI ever saw in him?"
"..."
Her words really carry deep meaning, huh, Lin Wei grumbled inwardly, but outwardly, he joked, "Oh yeah? How many points do I get?"
Lin Wei knew that Elysia's seemingly casual, friendly tone this time was, to some extent, a test representing the will of the entire Elysian Realm.
If he failed, no matter how regrettable it felt, Elysia would probably ask him to leave the Elysian Realm without hesitation and figure out how to handle the trouble he'd caused.
After all, she had helped him get access to Mobius earlier. So, she would have to be the one to step forward and resolve any issues, taking full responsibility.
But now, judging by Elysia's cheerful attitude—playfully knocking Kevin down while praising himself—it seemed he had passed the test. Lin Wei felt a wave of relief. Otherwise, not only would his objective here fail, but letting Elysia down would be something Lin Wei absolutely couldn't accept.
"To prevent you from getting too arrogant, I'll have to deduct a few points... Hmm... Okay, fine, a perfect score, barely~" Elysia pretended to deliberate, then her tone shifted back, brimming with laughter like flowers in bloom. "Alright now, Eden and the others have been waiting for you for a long time! Making girls wait like this will turn you into a very naughty boy, you know?"
As she spoke, she unreasonably pushed Lin Wei out of the lounge and vanished with a turn. She definitely had to tell Eden all about today's interesting stories!
"That girl..." Lin Wei glanced helplessly at Elysia's rapidly retreating figure, like a startled bird taking flight. He shook his head resignedly and turned back towards the central area. She was right. He needed to hurry up.
---||---
Entering the Elysian Realm again, Lin Wei navigated the familiar paths to Hua's designated area. From a distance, he spotted two gray-haired girls engaged in intense sparring.
One, Hua, moved with swiftness and precision, her steps economical, limbs fluid—the very picture of a master martial artist.
The other, Yuno, had movements that were wide and powerful. Despite her youthful appearance, her attacks were brutally direct, like smashing rocks and uprooting trees. Crystalline tendrils wrapped around her body acted as her fangs, sharp and lethal as they lunged towards her opponent.
But Hua weaved through the gaps with the grace of flying petals chasing leaves. Closing the distance, she unleashed a deceptively simple yet devastatingly heavy blow.
It wasn't over yet. Hua grabbed Yuno's arm as she flew back, pulling her off-balance body back towards her, followed immediately by a storm-like barrage of attacks.
Yuno, however, relied on her seemingly superhuman resilience and recovery to forcibly adapt to Hua's offensive rhythm, launching beast-like counterattacks amidst the onslaught.
"Always maintain a calm mind during combat." Hua, ever the grandmaster, continued her instruction calmly while relentlessly pummeling the "sandbag" before her, seemingly oblivious to whether this teaching method was actually effective.
"Grrr!" Yuno was clearly provoked, her crystalline tendrils growing more numerous and thicker.
"..." Lin Wei stood watching from a distance, not wanting to interrupt their bout. He inwardly Tucao'd Hua's inflexibility while wondering how the real-world Fu Hua would handle teaching. Probably with a lot more sarcasm... he mused.
After a moment, perhaps sensing Lin Wei's presence and wait, Hua prompted Yuno. Cooperating, she hastily ended the fight, looking thoroughly battered and disgruntled as she walked towards Lin Wei. She felt she looked quite embarrassing right now.
"Thanks for your hard work, Hua." Lin Wei walked over, first nodding to Hua, then turning to comfort Yuno. He gently smoothed her messy long hair.
Once she finally calmed down, Lin Wei suggested she rest for a bit before leaving with him. Then, he could finally have a proper conversation with Hua.
"Looks like it hasn't been easy for you either," Hua gestured towards Yuno walking towards the rest area, her expression serious. She wasn't joking or teasing; she genuinely meant it. After training her personally for a while, Hua deeply understood what a handful this young girl with a beast hidden inside her truly was.
"She's willing to trust me, so I shouldn't let her down," Lin Wei shook his head, feeling a lingering sense of unease, before changing the subject. "I'm sorry, I wasn't able to meet the real-world you when I returned this time, nor could I tell her about this place."
"I appreciate the thought, but there's no need to go to such trouble." Hua paused, then shook her head, speaking calmly. "The me in the real world... she has her own mission. It's different from the me in the Elysian Realm. She shouldn't be disturbed because of this."
"You..." Lin Wei felt completely helpless against this blockhead. "If the real you knew so many old friends still existed in this world, imagine how happy she'd be—even if she doesn't remember them anymore, it's still the same."
After entering the Elysian Realm this time, Lin Wei had tried repeatedly to awaken the feather deep within his consciousness, hoping she could represent Fu Hua and meet her old friends here. But he received no response.
Perhaps it was apprehension about facing the past, or shame about meeting former comrades again, or maybe simply because she was just a feather, and this wasn't her duty. In any case—she had refused Lin Wei's kind intentions with silence.
"..." Hua fell silent. She couldn't imagine what her future self would be like after fifty thousand years, what experiences she might have had. According to Lin Wei, she seemed very different from the Hua here.
Lin Wei saw the thoughts troubling her and asked, "So, is there anything you'd like me to pass on to her?"
"I..." Hua instinctively wanted to refuse, but a wave of uncertainty rising in her heart choked back the rest of the sentence. After thinking for a moment, she looked up and said, "Then please, ask her for me: if I were her, what should I do?"
"..." Lin Wei's heart clenched. He reached out and brushed a stray leaf fragment from her shoulder, sighing. "You are her. You won't do any worse than she does."
---||---
After bidding farewell to Hua, Lin Wei thought for a moment. Instead of leaving directly, he took Yuno and headed towards Sakura's area.
Unlike the intense battle at Hua's place, Sakura's domain was remarkably quiet. Looking from afar, two long-eared girls, nearly identical except for their attire, sat quietly facing each other across a low table. A shallow sake cup rested before each of them.
"Lin Wei, you're here?" The long-eared girl in the Miko outfit, Yae Sakura, heard Lin Wei and Yuno's footsteps from a distance. She turned her head, offering a faint but rather bright smile.
"Mr. Lin Wei, it has been a while." The long-eared girl in the blue battlesuit, SAKURA, also managed a smile, but upon her delicate features, identical to Yae Sakura's, lingered an undeniable shade of melancholy.
"Miss SAKURA, long time no see." Lin Wei first smiled and nodded at Yae Sakura, then turned to the hesitant SAKURA. "It seems you have something you wish to say?"
Unlike his closeness with Yae Sakura, Lin Wei always maintained a polite distance with SAKURA. After all, they were fundamentally different people.
"I..." SAKURA smiled awkwardly, stammering, "Please forgive my forwardness, it's just..." Her voice sounded strained, as if she had no idea how to begin.
Lin Wei, however, understood perfectly. He gently reached out, presenting the black box softly before her. "Miss SAKURA, please." He wasn't sure what word to use. "Please look" or "borrow" felt inappropriate—after all, this contained her sister. But it was a Divine Key; what other words could he use? Best to keep it vague...
"Ah, thank you so much!" SAKURA hastily stood up, carefully taking Pandora from Lin Wei's hands. She held it gently in her arms, not examining it closely, but simply wiping away dust that wasn't even there.
Her movements were incredibly soft, like dressing a beloved family member. Pandora, too, became unusually docile, resting quietly in the girl's embrace, unlike her usual resistance to being touched by others.
"..." Nearby, Yae Sakura watched this scene, seeming somewhat lost in thought. Her expression grew melancholic.
Seeing this, Lin Wei quietly walked over, patted his pants pocket naturally, and sat down beside her without a word. Yae Sakura gently leaned against him.
Her long ears brushed past Lin Wei's cheek, settling on his shoulder, creating a strangely fuzzy sensation. Her beautiful eyes slowly closed, the sadness fading from her face, replaced by a faint smile as she savored this moment of peace.
(Yuno: Why am I here just to suffer...?)
---||---
A short while later, a contented SAKURA gratefully returned Pandora. Lin Wei accepted it with a light smile.
He and Yae Sakura bid her farewell, and the three of them—Lin Wei, Yae Sakura, and Yuno—set off together towards the area where Mobius's laboratory was located.
Partway there, Yae Sakura suddenly stopped walking. Lin Wei felt a stir in his heart and followed her gaze.
When he saw who it was, Lin Wei let out a soft sigh.
"I never would have thought... that the one coming to stop me would be you."
Lin Wei's lips parted, softly uttering the name of the person blocking their path—
"Su..."